GENERAL SAYS BAGHDAD MAY NEED MORE TROOPS

The top U.S. military commander in Iraq said Tuesday that more U.S. troops may be needed in the capital to quell raging sectarian violence.

Gen. George W. Casey, speaking at a rare news conference with American Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, also reiterated that it will take longer than previously thought for Iraqi troops to take the lead in providing adequate security across the war-scarred nation.

"It's going to take another 12 to 18 months or so till I believe the Iraqi security forces are completely capable of taking over responsibility for their own security," Casey said, repeating the same estimate he made more than a month ago.

The news conference was another in a series of appearances by military commanders and Bush administration officials seeking to counter increasingly negative perceptions of the Iraq conflict as violence has escalated and U.S. casualties have risen to the highest rate this year, just weeks before a crucial congressional election.

In Washington, President Bush's national security adviser said Iraqis have made progress but must work more quickly to end violence and reach stability.

"I think they have to do more and they've got to do it faster," Stephen J. Hadley said on National Public Radio.

Hadley added that it was unlikely that Iraq would stabilize before the end of Bush's term in office in 2008, even though it is "moving toward" democracy.

"Is there going to be peace? Is it going to be the end of any violence? Of course not. This violence is going to go on for a long time," Hadley said. "You know, it takes a long time for these things to get completely out of the system."

During October, U.S. and Iraqi forces have come under increased attacks, with at least 90 U.S. troops killed in the highest American monthly death toll this year. Another 300 Iraqi troops have also been killed during the holy month of Ramadan, Casey said. Most U.S. and Iraqi casualties have come in Baghdad.

The Bush administration has been keen to play down any shift in Iraq policy. At the same time, President Bush has dropped the refrain that the United States will "stay the course" in Iraq, White House press secretary Tony Snow confirmed Monday, suggesting the phrase left the impression that the administration was not adjusting to conditions in Iraq.

While the U.S. military is able to clear neighborhoods of insurgents, holding and building have proved more problematic.

"Do we need more troops to do that? Maybe," Casey said. "If we do, I'll ask for the troops we need, both coalition and Iraqis."

There are 147,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and Casey acknowledged that he had initially projected a significant reduction of force this year but that, by late June, it became clear that Iraqi security forces were not as prepared as hoped for.

During Tuesday's news conference, Ambassador Khalilzad emphasized a political timetable, saying the Iraqi government has agreed to begin resolving fundamental disputes through a "national compact." It was unclear what will happen if the Iraqi politicians fail to meet the timeline referred to by Khalilzad.

"This ambassador has no right to force conditions or give the government a timetable," said Sahib Amry, a Najaf representative of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who controls 30 seats in parliament as well as the largest Shiite militia in Iraq.

ALSO TUESDAY

Four soldiers killed: The U.S. military also announced the death of four more American troops. One soldier was killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad on Tuesday, while two Marines and a sailor were killed in the western Anbar province the day before.

22 Iraqis found dead: At least 22 Iraqis were found dead on Baghdad's streets. Most had been blindfolded, handcuffed, tortured and killed, police said.

Two bombs in Baghdad: A bomb targeting a market in central Baghdad killed one person and injured seven others. Elsewhere, a bomb rigged to a gasoline truck detonated near the capital's Dora neighborhood but no one was harmed, according to police.

The Los Angeles Times is a Tribune Co. newspaper.

U.S. PLAN TO CURB VIOLENCE

Excerpts from U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad's news conference Tuesday in Baghdad, in which he detailed a U.S. plan for reducing violence:

"First, we are inducing Iraqi political and religious leaders who can control or influence armed groups in Baghdad to agree to stop sectarian violence.

"Second, we are helping Iraqi leaders to complete a national compact. Key political forces must make difficult decisions in the coming weeks to reach agreements on a number of outstanding issues on which Iraqis differ:

"Enacting an oil law that that will share the profits of Iraq's resources in a way that unites the country -- this is of critical importance;

"Amending the constitution to make all Iraqis understand that their children will be guaranteed democratic rights and equality;

"Reforming the De-Baathification Commission to transform it into an accountability and reconciliation program;

"Implementing a plan to address militias and death squads;

"Setting a date for provincial elections;

"Increasing the credibility and capability of Iraqi forces."

"The third element is persuading Sunni insurgents to lay down their arms and accept national reconciliation."